Man sentenced in beating death

Mani gets 12 years in prison for playing ‘substantial role’ in June 2011 crime

An Edmonton man who followed a drug dealer’s directions during the prolonged and fatal beating of a 57-year-old man in central Edmonton nearly four years ago was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman said Krishnil Vishal Mani, 28, played a “substantial role” in the death of William Arthur Reid Hill in June 2011.

Sanderman likened the victim to a “sack of potatoes.” Hill lay bound, blindfolded and gagged on the floor of a central Edmonton house where he was beaten, strangled and died.

“He couldn’t even cry out in pain,” Sanderman said.

Mani pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has been in custody since Hill’s death. He will serve an additional six years.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Mani was invited to a party during the afternoon of June 20, 2011, where he used crack cocaine.

Hill was also at the party, along with a drug dealer Mani knew.

After partying for some time, the drug dealer instructed Hill and Mani to go sell his drugs.

After they left, Mani convinced Hill to let him consume the drugs instead.

When the two men returned to the party, an argument broke out between Hill and the drug dealer, who had a hammer and threatened to beat Hill with it.

The drug dealer ordered Mani to help him get Hill to another residence, located on the second floor of the house they were at. Two women were also there.

Mani followed the drug dealer’s directions and tied Hill’s hands and feet together with electrical cords and blindfolded Hill.

The drug dealer began assaulting Hill, kicking him while wearing work boots and smashing his foot with a hammer.

He later ordered Mani to gag Hill and Mani did, then ordered Mani to get more electrical cords to strangle Hill. The beating continued. The drug dealer next ordered Mani and one of the women to wrap Hill up in blankets.

At that point, the drug dealer realized Hill was making gurgling sounds and was not dead, so he struck him repeatedly in the head.

The drug dealer next ordered Mani to get Hill’s car so he could put the body in the truck and dump it. Mani left to get Hill’s car and fled the scene in the car.

Hill died sometime between late June 20 and the early morning hours of June 21.

His body was located June 23 by police in a cubby hole closet area of the house, and Mani was arrested days later while driving Hill’s car.

Sanderman said Mani has a limited mental capacity and was following directions and feared reprisal from the drug dealer. Mani is vulnerable to manipulation and victimization, he said.

But he noted when Mani left the “room of horrors,” he did not seek help for Hill.

“You should have done something when you left that room,” Sanderman said.